Should we as Christian obey old testament law?
This question of which laws should we obey as Christians is a question that I am sure every Christians have asked in their walk with the Lord, and it is a question that the Bible Scholars, and preachers answer. in this reflection I will look to answer this question looking at what Scripture, scholars and preachers say about the law for us 21st century Christians.
Romans 7:6 reminds us that we have died to the law through the body of Christ and as a result, we are released to the law. So, to answer the person who asks what law we should apply as Christians? The answer to this question as Christians we are dead to the law as this means we have no obligation towards it. As Christ our law keeper who kept it faithfully, we have been freed from the law.
We are not under the Law but under grace, as Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly so we should not be worrying about which law we should keep as Christians as we have been set free from the law (Piper). As people who have died and risen with Christ (Rom 6:8) which we no longer live He gives us a new birth and now the law is written in our hearts through the Spirit which means we should live lives of holiness and love (Piper).
We look at Jesus and the Apostles for his teachings since he fulfilled the law and Jesus’ teachings are actually of high moral than that of the Old Testament as we seek to walk to the truth of the gospel that is only found in Christ Jesus. As Christians, we are not under the law of Moses but under that of Jesus and this is the law of the Spirit.
Our lives should be that of redeemed people who have died to the law as we live in faith through Jesus the Son of God (Rosner, 134). As the law was meant to be a guardian until Christ came but now, we are justified through faith in Him (Gal. 3:24). As Christians, it should be of comfort and a reminder that we are not justified by works but faith through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:16) so this is the freedom to us as it means we should not worry as to which laws to keep.
Since we have been liberated from the law it does not gives us an excuse to continue sinning as now the law is written in our hearts and we are now under the lordship of Christ which is characterized by a life of holiness and love towards God and our neighbor can through the Spirit we can live godly lives and be convicted when we sin as now it is engraved in our hearts.
Therefore, we Christians are not under the Old Testament law but under the Law of Christ the perfect law keeper and we live for him as our sinful nature died when the law, but we are now raised with Christ (Rom 7:1-6)
